Confidence in NHS hits a new low

Growing anger over waiting times and the vast amount of money being spent on pay deals rather than frontline services, has annoyed people. A survey from opinion pollsters YouGov reveals that growing numbers of people believe the NHS is failing to provide the level of care they expect. The UK survey, commissioned by private medical insurer WPA, shows that nearly half of those questioned thought the health service is deteriorating.

In the YouGov survey, 2,000 members of the public from across the UK aged between 18 and 55 years old were questioned each quarter from September 2004 about their views on the health service. The latest figures from April 2006 reveal that just 16% felt the NHS has improved over the past 12 months, while in September 2004 the figure was 26%.

46% now believe the NHS is deteriorating, compared with just 28% in September 2004.

The survey also finds that 36% felt waiting lists were getting worse by growing longer in the latest figures, compared with 31% in September 2004.

Politicians have tried to rubbish the figures, but the survey size and method is statistically sound.

What is important is not what politicians think that people think, but what people actually think. The survey says people think the NHS is getting worse. A good reason to consider private health insurance.